Hepatitis A

  • Soccer star Dejagah hospitalized with hepatitis A

    Posted: February 4th, 2009 - 4:12pm by Doug Powell

    VfL Wolfsburg's German Under-21 international Ashkan Dejagah is facing a "very long time" on the sidelines after being admitted to a specialist hospital in Hamburg to undergo treatment for hepatitis A.

    Wolfsburg coach Felix Magath said,

    "It is very unfortunate and he will be sidelined for a very long time. We wish him the swiftest of recoveries."

    No word on how the virus was contracted – food, water or otherwise.
     

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  • Get vaccinated for hepatitis A or you'll rue the day

    Posted: January 8th, 2009 - 3:11pm by Doug Powell

    Real Genius was a 1985 fluff film notable for some witty banter, bunny slippers, and that actor Val Kilmer, in the role of science whiz Chris Knight, once had a sense of humor. Like this scene, right:

    Dr. Dodd: Why is that toy on your head?
    Chris Knight: Because if I wear it any place else, it chafes.

    And I wish I’d remembered this classic when Amy was pregnant. I had so many opportunities to use it:

    Chris Knight: Do you mind if I name my first child after you? "Dipshit Knight" has a nice ring to it.

    I was struck with nostalgia when I read the headline in Canada’s North Bay Nugget this morning, Victim rues not getting vaccinated.

    I looked at Amy and said, “You’ll rue the day. Who talks like that? Where’s that line from?”

    “I don’t know.”

    Then I used a tool my students finally taught me to use a few years ago. It’s called Google. And there it was:

    [Kent opens his dorm room door to find his car inside]
    Chris Knight: Hey Kent... That's your car.
    Mitch: Kent, you know you're not supposed to park that on campus.
    Kent: You've gone too far this time, Knight.
    Chris Knight: [whiny, scared voice] I had help!
    [points to Mitch]
    Kent: You, huh? Well you won't get away with this. Doctor Hathaway's gonna hear all about this. You'll rue the day!
    Chris Knight: "Rue the day?" Who talks like that?

    And rather than rue the day, get vaccinated for hepatitis A before going to the Dominican Republic. Or you may cause a health scare where you bartend.

    The North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit announced Wednesday there was one case of hepatitis A in the city. Officials advised patrons who had visited the bar Nov. 26, Dec. 3, 4, 10 or 11 to watch for symptoms associated with the virus and contact their health-care providers.

    And some more of the witty 1985 banter:

    Chris Knight: Sir, let me take this moment to compliment you on your fashion sense, particularly your slippers.

    Kent: Uh, I'll catch up with you guys. I have to go to the bathroom.
    Chris Knight: Okay, Kent, but I don't think that's going to help your confidence any, do you?

    Professor Hathaway: I want to see more of you around the lab.
    Chris Knight: Fine. I'll gain weight.

    Chris Knight: Kent puts his name on his license plate.
    Mitch: My mom does the same thing to my underwear.
    Chris Knight: Your mom puts license plates in your underwear? How do you sit?

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  • FDA and EPA acting fishy about mercury

    Posted: December 29th, 2008 - 12:27am by Michelle Mazur

    I love fish, and would eat it at every meal if I could.  But I know quite a few people that can’t stand it.  Some claim the smell, it’s so…. fishy.  Why eat fish in the first place? According to the American Heart Association, fish is a good source of protein and, unlike fatty meat products, it’s not high in saturated fat. It’s also a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, which benefit heart health.

    When choosing what kind fish to eat, pregnant women and young children should stick with sea creatures with the lowest known levels of mercury, such as shrimp, oysters, clams, sardines, anchovies and herring, as well as hake, tilapia, crayfish and whiting.  Large predatory fish, such as shark and swordfish, are very likely to contain high levels of mercury and consumption of them should be restricted if not avoided by high-risk individuals.
    FDA and EPA experts currently advise pregnant women and women of childbearing age, who may become pregnant, that they can safely eat up to 12 ounces — roughly two servings — of most fish a week, but should limit their intake of albacore tuna to 6 ounces a week.

    Now the two agencies are in disagreement over the two-serving limit.  The F.D.A. has circulated a draft report suggesting that the vast majority of fetuses and infants would actually benefit if their mothers ate more than two servings of fish a week because fish contain highly beneficial nutrients that aid in brain development and that those benefits outweigh any potential harm.  Those contentions are sharply disputed by specialists at the E.P.A. who charged that the report had “serious scientific flaws,” relied on questionable models and should not be used as a basis for decision-making.

    We’ll have to see where the final lines are drawn.  Until then, enjoy moderate amounts of safe seafood.  As with all meat products consumed by pregnant women, the fish should be thoroughly cooked and properly stored.  Pregnant women should always avoid sushi and other kinds of raw meat.

     

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  • Don't eat poop: Hepatitis A alert for Toronto sushi restaurant

    Posted: October 23rd, 2008 - 1:06pm by Doug Powell

    Toronto Public Health has identified a case of Hepatitis A in a food handler at Sushi Haru located at 635 College Street at Grace Street in Toronto. Anyone who consumed food from this restaurant on the following dates may have been exposed to the Hepatitis A virus: September 30; October 1 to 3; or October 6 to 10. …

    If you ate at Sushi Haru on October 9, you may still benefit from receiving a vaccination to prevent Hepatitis A infection. The vaccine is effective for up to 14 days after coming into contact with the virus. Today is the last day that the vaccine would be effective. Call your doctor to get the vaccine, or go to a walk-in clinic.

    A Fact Sheet on Hepatitis A is available at     www.toronto.ca/health.
     

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  • Food safety in pregnancy is not simple

    Posted: July 22nd, 2008 - 7:37pm by Amy Hubbell

    Yesterday I enjoyed an aperitif at Houlihan’s with my friend Angélique. Although the conversation was excellent, ordering was complicated for me. I wasn’t supposed to eat at least half of the items offered, and another third of them didn’t sound good to me.

    Pregnancy food safety guidelines combined with changing tastes and sensitivity to smells make ordering very difficult. On our trip home from Australia on Sunday, for example, I wanted to grab a sandwich at LAX, and because we were at a deli, that left only one choice for me: a chicken Panini. Everything else had unheated deli meat – known to put me at risk for listeria.

    At Houlihan’s, I used to enjoy the tuna wontons, but the tuna is only seared and I don’t trust raw fish right now. I couldn’t eat the very appetizing brie starter because the waitress didn’t think it was heated, and the bruschetta that we did share was a big question mark for me. It had goat’s cheese together with the tomato mix. We now know that tomatoes are all supposedly safe from Salmonella, but how safe was the cheese? I take at least a little comfort in knowing that I’ve been fully vaccinated against Hepatitis A thanks to my past wild travels. Angélique and I also shared a spinach and artichoke dip that came with fresh cilantro and scallions sprinkled all over the chips. I grow my own cilantro at home and know how hard it is to keep it clean and out of the snails’ reach …

    Finally, very hungry, I just ate and tried to ignore the smaller risk factors. I did my best but I still didn’t feel confident that my food was safe. Who knows or can control what was happening in the kitchen?

    For those who want to tell me, and every pregnant woman, how simple it is to eat safely during pregnancy, I beg to differ. See “Listeria warning for pregnant women” for example. Dr. Paul McKeown says, “Simple measures such as ensuring that the fridge is in good working order with the temperature between two and five degrees Celsius, eating food that is well within its use-by date so that harmful bugs will not have had time to grow and practising good general food hygiene will reduce the risk of listeriosis.”

    We, as consumers, can reduce some of the risks but we cannot eliminate them. And I find that the more I know about food safety, the more complicated all of this becomes. When you’re hungry and the airline offers you a roll with cheddar and pastrami … and you ask your food safety expert partner, “if I pick off the pastrami, is the sandwich safe to eat and how much cross contamination might have taken place?” and he shrugs … sometimes you have to decide for yourself.


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  • Hepatitis A concerns at Detroit Papa Romano's

    Posted: May 31st, 2008 - 8:01am by Doug Powell

    Did you eat any uncooked items at the Farmington Hills Papa Romano’s between May 17 and May 23, 2008? If so, you may want to contact your doctor after a restaurant employee was diagnosed with hepatitis A.

    Hopefully the employee practiced excellent handwashing so the hepatitis A virus, found in the employee's poop, didn’t make its way to a salad or roll.

    Dude wash your damn hands. And don't eat poop.
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  • Hepatitis linked to Melbourne caf??

    Posted: May 30th, 2008 - 6:31am by Doug Powell

    Five people have been struck down with Hepatitis A in an outbreak traced to Zanzibar Cafe on Latrobe Street in Melbourne's city centre.

    Victoria's Department of Human Services said the outbreak has been linked to a food handler who also worked part time as a cleaner.

    A 65-year-old man from Doncaster, a 32-year-old woman from Reservoir, a 51-year-old man from East Malvern and a 54-year-old man from Aspendale were among those affected. The department was notified of a fifth case on Friday afternoon.

    An extensive clean up of the cafe had been carried out under the supervision of Melbourne City Council.

    Hepatitis A is found in feces of the infected person and can be spread by direct contact with food, beverages or crockery.

    Dude wash your damn hands. And don't eat poop.

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  • Chipotle hep A climbs to 14

    Posted: April 27th, 2008 - 10:00am by Ben Chapman

    NBCSandiego reported yesterday that the cases of Hep A linked to a La Mesa Chipotle has reached 14.  The story says that most concern is over anyone who dined at the restaurant located at 8005 Fletcher Parkway between March 1 and April 22. Officials were cited as saying blood samples taken so far from restaurant employees have not shown any recent Hepatitis A infections.

    With 14 cases and so far no employee testing for any signs of Hep A, I wonder if this outbreak is linked to a common food vehicle from a supplier, or one mixed/prepared in store.    Wonder if there has been a spike in what is thought to be sporadic Hep A cases associated with other outlets suppliers sent product to.

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  • Hepatitis A illnesses linked to San Diego Chipotle now at 12

    Posted: April 24th, 2008 - 9:53pm by Doug Powell

    The San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) reports six additional cases of Hepatitis A linked to possible exposure at a Chipotle restaurant in La Mesa, bringing the total number of cases to 12.

    The County recommends that individuals who dined at the restaurant between March 1 and April 22, 2008 -- and are symptomatic for Hepatitis A -- see their physician to be screened for the illness.

    Wilma Wooten, M.D., M.P.H., County of San Diego Public Health Officer, said,

    “Hepatitis A is a vaccine-preventable illness. The key to prevention also includes appropriate and frequent hand-washing."

    Monty Moran, president and chief operating officer of Chipotle, said,


    “We continue to partner with the County of San Diego as they investigate the cause of this illness. Employees tested to date have been negative for Hepatitis A. Our restaurant has received ‘A’ ratings in all five inspections in the last five months.”

    Keep poop out of food. Wash your damn hands.


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  • San Diego Chipotle linked to hepatitis A outbreak

    Posted: April 23rd, 2008 - 4:21pm by Doug Powell

    The San Diego Health and Human Services Agency and County Department of Environmental Health are investigating six cases of hepatitis A linked to a La Mesa Chipotle restaurant. …

    Hepatitis A is a result of poor hygiene. Health officials say that victims are exposed when an individual consumes water or food contaminated with the stool of someone with the virus.

    These hepatitis A cases are a weekly occurrence in the U.S. A food worker parties in Mexico or the Dominican or Honduras, where hepatitis A is endemic. Food worker comes home, is fine for two weeks, then spends the next two weeks crapping out virus. And unless food worker  is really diligent about handwashing, she's spreading virus-containing poop on food -- especially fresh produce or salads. After four weeks, food worker turns yellow and goes to the doctor where a diagnosis is made. Then the clinics start. In this case, a food worker has not been identified as the source -- yet.

    Get vaccinated for hepatitis A. And dude, wash your damn hands.
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